This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This is the absolute Best Ever Creamy Pasta Salad recipe made with cucumbers, bell peppers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cheddar cheese and a creamy ranch dressing full of flavor!
Creamy Pasta Salad
This creamy ranch pasta salad tastes incredible after coming together in just 20 minutes without having to marinate for hours. This is so simple to make with amazing flavors and the perfect combo of veggies. Perfect for Spring or Summer. We love to take this to potlucks and gatherings. Everyone always begs for the recipe!
The right balance of textures with tender noodles and crunchy veggies, and that dressing is full of flavor, creamy perfection! This is the BEST Ever Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe and will even bring pasta salad haters back for seconds.
Ingredients You Will Need:
(full amounts in recipe box below)
- fusilli or rotini pasta
- mayonnaise
- milk
- ranch dressing
- veggies
- cheddar cheese
How Do You Make Creamy Pasta Salad?
- Prepare pasta according to directions.
- While waiting for the pasta to boil, prepare your cucumber, broccoli, red onion, asparagus, bell pepper, tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Set aside.
- To make the dressing, whisk together ranch mix, mayo and milk. Mix until all lumps are gone.
- Once pasta is done, drain and let cool for a couple minutes. Once cooled, mix in the sliced cucumber, chopped broccoli, chopped asparagus, chopped bell pepper, halved tomatoes and cheese.
- Next pour dressing over the pasta salad, and stir gently until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
- Right before serving, give your Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad a couple more stirs to mix in any of the dressing that had settled at the bottom.
Tips for making the BEST Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad:
- You can make the dressing up to 24 hours in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will make the recipe come together very quickly if you are in a rush for a gathering.
- I like to use fusilli pasta in this recipe but rotini pasta will also work great.
- It is important to not overcook your pasta – you want it al dente so it still has a little bite otherwise the pasta salad will be soggy.
- To stop your pasta from cooking after it’s removed from the heat, rinse and drain it in cold water then drizzle it with a touch of olive oil to keep it from sticking together. You can also do a quick coating with cooking spray instead of olive oil.
- It is essential to use thick-cut bacon in this recipe so it retains its meaty texture when covered in the creamy dressing.
- Make sure you slice your onions thin, you don’t want them to overpower the salad.
- Feel free to add or change any of the veggies! We love this combo, but you can adapt to your liking. I bet chicken would be a nice addition to this as well for a main dish!
Other Salad Recipes You Will Love:
The BEST Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe
This is the absolute Best Ever Creamy Pasta Salad made with cucumbers, bell peppers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cheddar cheese and a creamy ranch dressing full of flavor!
Servings: 10
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce package fusilli or rotini pasta
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1 ounce package ranch dressing mix or homemade ranch dressing
- 1 cucumber quartered and thinly sliced
- 2 cups broccoli florets chopped
- 2 cups asparagus ends removed, and chopped
- 2 bell peppers chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese sliced into matchsticks or grated
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package.
- While waiting for the pasta to boil, prepare your cucumber, broccoli, red onion, asparagus, bell pepper, tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Set aside.
- To make the dressing, whisk together ranch mix, mayo and milk. Mix until all lumps are gone.
- Once pasta is done, drain and let cool for a couple minutes. Once cooled, mix in the sliced cucumber, chopped broccoli, chopped asparagus, chopped bell pepper, halved tomatoes and cheese.
- Next pour dressing over the pasta salad, and stir gently until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
- Right before serving, give your Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad a couple more stirs to mix in any of the dressing that had settled at the bottom.
- Serve and enjoy!
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Serving: 10g | Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 318mg | Potassium: 276mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1284IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 1mg
